Photo Friday – Biloxi National Cemetery

Welcome to another Photo Friday post! The year is winding down, isn’t it? I hope that y’all are prepared for a beautiful holiday with your family and friends. I know that we certainly are.

I meant to share these photos with you shortly after I took them and participated in the wreath-laying at Biloxi National Cemetery, but I got busy and almost forgot that I had them. The military is a big deal here on Mississippi Gulf Coast – we have Keesler Air Force base, which has in the past been voted as the best base in the USA – & a SeaBee base. We used to have a Naval Station, and we also have an Armed Forces Retirement Home.

When you have an active military population in a location, the military is extremely important…as are the fallen soldiers. Back at the end of November, a call was made for volunteers to help first unload wreaths for soldiers’ graves and then place them on the graves.

When I called to volunteer for the early shift to help unload, the gentleman I talked to said that the previous year they had unloaded about half as many wreaths (about 4,000) and it had taken them about an hour and a half. This year they unloaded close to 10,000 wreaths.

I was about five minutes late showing up to help that Saturday morning, and there were so many people to help that I think I carried two boxes. The truck was unloaded within 25 minutes. Kind of amazing really.

I didn’t stay to help put wreaths on the graves – that happened after a ceremony three hours later in the morning, but I did go back a few weeks later to see the end results.

A request has already been made for volunteers on January 9, 2016 to help pick up and box the wreaths. I’m not sure if we have plans, but if we don’t, I’ll be out there helping. Not all of the graves have wreaths, and next year the are hoping to have even more wreaths, which means even more need for people to help. It makes me happy that there are so many people who are willing to step up and provide support…or remembrance…to those who make our way of life possible.

I hope that y’all are having a great holiday season and that your Christmases are merry and bright!

Photo Friday Link-Up

Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Photo Friday link-up! I apologize for not getting to any of your posts last week – with traveling and literally being exhausted, I just didn’t have time because sometimes family and self-care takes priority. But I’ll get to them this weekend along with this week’s offerings!

Last week’s most viewed links came from Betty at Photographing New Zealand. She shared some gorgeous photos of the landscape and sky around her. Absolutely beautiful!

Photographing New Zealand – New Zealand Skies

Our last added link came from Kelly at Swimming in Sunshine. If you missed her post, give yourself a little present and go check it out!

Without further ado, it’s time for this week’s link-up! I know that many of you will be busy with your families – remember that the link-up is open until Monday night so join us when you can!

Thank you Ruth! I hope your holiday has been lovely – we’ve enjoyed time with friends and family and they have been more generous than we deserved. I’m excited for 2016 – lots and lots of planning to be done here in the next week 😉

Dear Jen,
It is truly wonderful to have a community that volunteers when help is needed ~ All those men and women who have served in military ~ those families that have lost a loved one … Touched by the wreaths on their graves ~ You’re doing an important ministry by sharing and raising awareness … For all brothers and sisters out there ~ as well as their families back at home!
Wishing you & yours a peaceful and joyous Christmas,
NinaNina recently posted…Christmas Card from Copenhagen

Such a lovely thing to volunteer for and a lovely set of photos too Jen. I really like the shots of the graves with the newly laid wreaths, there’s something both comforting and sombre about it. I’m sorry I’m absent for this Friday’s round-up, I’ll be back next week after the Christmas festivities have died down. Lovely photos and Merry Christmas! – TashaNatasha recently posted…Wishing You All a Wonderful Festive Season!

It was very moving to see all the graves decorated and even more to see all the people out there helping, giving up their time. It was chilly by Coast standards so it was lovely to see people bundled up and supporting the military community.

So sad to see all those wreaths….What a wonderful thing you did volunteering to unload them. It’s good there are people who commemorate and remember those who gave their lives for our country.Linda W recently posted…The Ornament Trail Revisited

[…] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 This post is linked up with Photo Friday on Pierced Wonderings. […]

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I'm a teacher, writer, and photographer capturing the magical moments of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - putting my experience as a teacher and educational staff developer to work crafting stories that chronicle an experience well-lived.

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All content - pictures and text - unless otherwise noted, is my creation. All content on this site is the property of Jennifer Allen - Owner & Creator of Pierced Wonderings. Duplication and/or unauthorized use of any content on this site without express written permission is strictly prohibited.